Revealing the Origins of Life

[Impulse]

I came across this video and thought some people here may enjoy it. It's about 2 years old so it's not exactly news, but it was to me.

This is their description of what it's about:
"Where did the very first living thing on Earth come from? Scientists have long argued that billions of years ago, life emerged on its own—but no one knows exactly how. Now, in a landmark discovery, chemist John Sutherland has created the conditions in which the building blocks of RNA, one of the key molecules of life and the probable precursor to DNA, assemble themselves naturally."

Here's the page with the video:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/evolution/o...-life.html

It's only about 10 minutes. Enjoy!

[Bucky Ball]

(09-02-2013 07:10 PM)Impulse Wrote:  I came across this video and thought some people here may enjoy it. It's about 2 years old so it's not exactly news, but it was to me.

This is their description of what it's about:
"Where did the very first living thing on Earth come from? Scientists have long argued that billions of years ago, life emerged on its own—but no one knows exactly how. Now, in a landmark discovery, chemist John Sutherland has created the conditions in which the building blocks of RNA, one of the key molecules of life and the probable precursor to DNA, assemble themselves naturally."

Here's the page with the video:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/evolution/o...-life.html

It's only about 10 minutes. Enjoy!

Here's the first of a longer version of a set by the Harvard/Mass-General MD referenced in the vid. (Dr. Jack Szostak).

[DLJ]

I am of the thinking that the word 'life' is the problem. It pushes our minds away from thinking that all things are on a continuum.

Considering the timeline:

Physics --> Chemistry --> Biology...

Formation of the Earth ......... 4.5 billion years ago
Stable hydrosphere ............. 4.2 by
Prebiotic chemistry ............. 4.2-4 by
Pre-RNA world ................... 3.8 by
RNA world ......................... 4 by

First DNA / protein 'life' ........ 3.6 by
emergence of Darwinian evolution
'complexification' of early life
us

It's almost like asking: Where did the first 'soul' appear on the timeline?



Better to think about the real 'missing link' that was the trigger that brought about the transition from a chemical system to Darwinian-style evolution.
Miller-Urey FTW!

Btw, Impulse, that vid is not available in my country. Dagnammit, Big Brother
:shakesfist:

[Impulse]

(09-02-2013 07:59 PM)Bucky Ball Wrote:  

(09-02-2013 07:10 PM)Impulse Wrote:  I came across this video and thought some people here may enjoy it. It's about 2 years old so it's not exactly news, but it was to me.

This is their description of what it's about:
"Where did the very first living thing on Earth come from? Scientists have long argued that billions of years ago, life emerged on its own—but no one knows exactly how. Now, in a landmark discovery, chemist John Sutherland has created the conditions in which the building blocks of RNA, one of the key molecules of life and the probable precursor to DNA, assemble themselves naturally."

Here's the page with the video:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/evolution/o...-life.html

It's only about 10 minutes. Enjoy!

Here's the first of a longer version of a set by the Harvard/Mass General MD referenced in the vid. (Dr. Jack Szostak).

Great info. Thanks Bucky.

[Impulse]

(09-02-2013 09:34 PM)DLJ Wrote:  Btw, Impulse, that vid is not available in my country. Dagnammit, Big Brother
:shakesfist:

Bummer! Sorry, I didn't know. That probably means it's not available outside USA.


Edit:
Here are some other pages that have the same video. Hopefully, at least one of them will work for you:
http://www.thirteen.org/programs/nova-sc...s-of-life/
https://massasoit.instructure.com/course...sciencenow
http://www.wgbh.org/programs/Nova-Scienc...Life-25153

[KVron]

These questions might appear stupid, but still...
Since those conditions are still present, is still "new" life (by new I mean that: absolutely new) being created?
If so, does it have the same base ADN as us, who evolved from ancient cells?

[Chas]

(11-02-2013 10:08 AM)KVron Wrote:  These questions might appear stupid, but still...
Since those conditions are still present, is still "new" life (by new I mean that: absolutely new) being created?
If so, does it have the same base ADN as us, who evolved from ancient cells?

The conditions are not still present. At that time there was no free oxygen in the atmosphere, for instance.

[DLJ]

(10-02-2013 11:39 AM)Impulse Wrote:  ...
Edit:
Here are some other pages that have the same video. Hopefully, at least one of them will work for you:
http://www.thirteen.org/programs/nova-sc...s-of-life/
https://massasoit.instructure.com/course...sciencenow
http://www.wgbh.org/programs/Nova-Scienc...Life-25153

Your effort is really appreciated but sadly none of the above available here